Olympians share thoughts on ‘perfect athlete'

Emerging stars from the Beijing Olympics  share their surprising choices for the perfect athlete.

Buzz over Biden for VP crystalizes concerns

Sen. Joe Biden's emergence at the center of speculation about who will be Barack Obama's running mate may say more about Obama's challenges in the presidential race than it does about the final selection.

Amish population nearly doubles

The Amish are expanding their presence in states far beyond Pennsylvania Dutch country as they search for affordable farmland to accommodate a population that has nearly doubled in 16 years.

IOC chides Bolt for lack of respect to rivals

IOC president Jacques Rogge criticized the Jamaican sprinter for showing a lack of respect to other competitors after his record-breaking gold medal performances in the 100 and 200 meters.

Russia blocks port city as deadline looms

Russian forces blocked the only land entrance to Georgia's main port city on Thursday, a day before Russia promised to complete a troop pullout from its ex-Soviet neighbor.

Struggling at a million-dollar horse stable

In the electoral battleground of the Denver suburbs, Stan and Christine Penton are the embodiment of voters that both parties are trying desperately to woo. Msnbc.com's Mike Stuckey reports.

Gators prowl as Fay heads back to Fla.

Tropical Storm Fay hung offshore Thursday and poured more rain on Florida's central Atlantic coast after flooding hundreds of homes and leaving much of the state a soggy mess.

3 NATO troops die in Afghanistan
U.S.-led coalition troops battled a group of militants in eastern Afghanistan, killing over 30 insurgents, while three NATO soldiers were killed in a roadside blast elsewhere, officials said Thursday.

Poll: McCain halves Obama's lead

The latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll finds Obama up only 45-42 percent, as he still hasn't closed the deal with some Clinton backers.